Bass violin strummer



March 11, 1941. BAY 2,234,224

BASS VIOLIN STRUMMER Fild Sept. 9, 1940 Patented Mar. 11, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application September 9, 1940, Serial No. 355,909

Claims.

My invention relates to picks and strummers for stringed musical instruments and more particularly to strummers for bass violins.

The principal objects of my invention are to devise a strummer which will produce an effect on a stringed instrument similar to that obtained by using the fleshy part of the finger, which will permit a musician using the strummer to retain his sense of touch, which will not injure the strings of the instrument played therewith, and which will be comfortable on a musicians finger and wont slip or be pulled therefrom. A further object is to devise a strummer which is of simple construction, inexpensive to manufacture and durable in use.

My invention consists principally in providing a strummer having a longitudinal member with curved clip portions at the rearward end thereof for encircling or partially encircling a persons finger and a rounded button or boss at the forward end thereof adapted for strumming a stringed instrument, said strummer being adapted to be worn on the inner side of a finger and to terminate short of the end thereof. The invention further consists in the parts and combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts wherever they occur,

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a bass violin strummer embodying my invention,

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the strummer,

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational View of the strummer,

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a hand with two of my strummers applied to its fingers.

Illustrated in the accompanying drawing is a bass violin strummer l formed from a suitable plastic or any other. suitable material. The strummer comprises a straight stem 2 having curved slip portions 3 extending laterally from the rearward end thereof adapted to encircle or partially encircle a finger 4. The forward portion of the straight stem is built up in thickness and the inner surface thereof is slightly curved to conform to the rounded contour of a finger, said front end portion being thicker than the portion adjacent to the clip portions 3. The inner surface 5 of the strummer is preferably roughened to prevent the strummer from slipping while on a wearers finger. However, if desirable,

the inner surface may be smooth. A rounded button or boss 6 is provided on the outer side of the front portion of the strummer for engaging the strings of a musical instrument. This button may be integral with the stem or secured 5 thereto by any suitable means.

In use, the hereinbefore described strummer is placed on a musicians finger as illustrated in Fig. 5 with the clip portion slightly above the outermost finger joint. The clip portions 3 par- 10 tially encircle the finger and the resiliency thereof secures the strummer to the finger. The straight stem portion 2 extends along the inner side of the finger but terminates short thereof. The roughness of the inner side 5 of the strummer together with the resiliency thereof tends to prevent the strummer from slipping from its position in use. The button on the stem is used to strum the musical instrument, producing a tone similar to that produced by the fleshy part of a finger. The position of the strummer on the finger with its forward end terminating short of the end of the finger permits the musician to retain an accurate sense of touch.

Obviously, numerous modifications may be made and I do not wish to be limited to the precise construction shown.

What I claim is:

1. A strummer for bass violins and other stringed instruments comprising a body portion adapted to extend along the inner side of a finger, resilient curved clip portions extending laterally from said body portion for partially encircling said finger and a rounded boss extending from said body portion for engaging an instrument string.

2. A strummer for bass violins and other stringed instruments comprising a. straight stem adapted to extend along the inner side of a finger, curved clip portions extending laterally from the rear end of said stem for partially encircling said finger and a rounded boss at the forward end of said stem for engaging an instrument string.

3. A strummer for bass violins and other stringed instruments comprising a straight stern adapted to extend along the inner side of a finger, resilient curved clip-portions extending laterally from the rear end of said stem for partially encircling said finger, said stem being thicker at 5 the forward end thereof than adjacent to said clip portions and the inner surface of said stem being curved to conform to the roundness of said finger and a rounded boss at the forward end of said stem for engaging an instrument string.

4. A strummer for bass violins and other stringed instruments comprising a straight stem adapted to lie against and extend along the inner side of a finger, curved clip portions extending laterally from the rear end of said stem for partially encircling said finger, the inner surface of said strummer being roughened to prevent said strummer from slipping on said finger and a' adapted to extend along the inner side of a finger, the forward portion of said stem being thicker than the rearward portion thereof and adapted to lie against the inner side of said finger, curved clip portions extending laterally from 5 forward end of said stem for engaging an instru- 10 ment string.

MAY BAY. 

